Alienware M18x R2 7970 CF, best GPU upgrade option?

I got a question regarding gtx 1060 working in Alienware m18x r2.

Eurocom website says " To use the GTX 1060 video card you MUST be running in Optimus mode, and running the unlocked bios and youyr LCD panel must be eDP "

Is the edp lcd external ? or using built in alienware m18x r2 lcd ?

 

If running in Optimus mode there is no need of EDP lcd screen(video signal is converted and routed by iGpu), surely a mistake.

 

If eurocom send the gpu for free for testing it, i am available with my m18x R2.
But I see to many issue, i still cant think about this card correctly work on alieware machine, to many complications...

 

any news?

 

^ Any idea if the cards mentioned above would work on the AW18? Even if they don't work in crossfire, would still be worthwhile.

 

It will work in a single card + optimus configuration, but there are pre-requisites:
1. You must mod your heatsink. Your existing heatsink will crush some of the upper components on the card.
2. You must flash an unlocked BIOS and manually set video mode to SG.
3. SLI will not be an option any longer.
4. If you accidentally reset your BIOS or hit the graphics switch, it will default to PEG, and you will not be able to post without removing the GPU first.

 

you cannot change the LCD, M18x R2 only have LVDS port available for display. You need unlocked BIOS and set video setting to SG, not PEG, PCI, AUTO, or IGFX

 

Is it still the case with these cards that the 1070 and 1080 will only work with in conjunction with an LVDS port? If so, that essentially means a single 1060 is the only option out of these 3 that will work on the AW18?

 

Please read threads thoroughly.....it's been answered many times.

Single 1060, Single 1070, and Single 1080 will ALL WORK THE SAME WAY ON ANY LVDS MXM EQUIPPED ALIENWARE. OPTIMUS IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PASCAL CARDS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN eDP EQUIPPED MACHINE

I wish a mod could just sticky this statement instead of having a dozen questions about the same thing over and over again.

 

My apologies, I misinterpreted the compatibility for the AW18 being limited to the 1060. Please be patient with me, I'm attempting to navigate the murky waters of laptop upgrades. Thank you for answering my question though.

 

Hi everyone, I was wondering if I could upgrade my Alienware M18x R2 graphics as well and I saw this forum. I don't plan to upgrade it with an internal graphic card as it is a total unknown domain for me, but I saw it may be possible to use an external card via the PCI express card slot:
https://www.banggood.com/EXP-GDC-Laptop-External-PCI-E-Graphics-Card-p-934367.html

Do you think it could be compatible? I want to upgrade my graphics for a VR headset, I currently have AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire. What is the best solution? The best card? How do I have to proceed?

Thanks in advance!

 

I have seen good and bad reviews for those things, if you want VR you better off buying Alienwares graphics amplifier if you can find one. Depending on the situation I have seen some people say that those adapters need a dedicated PSU for power.

Honestly you are better off just upgrading your internal graphics to 980M sli. It really isn't that difficult once you get used to it, I just followed the youtube video on how to change graphics cards. If you follow what they do you can't really go wrong.

 

I'm very afraid of doing it, as upgrading my BIOS too, these are very risky solutions. I already checked the amplifier but I don't know if it works with the M18x R2 as it is not mentioned. Moreover I want to stay with w7 (don't want to upgrade to w10), is the 980M sli VR ready and easy to install? I don't have any tools but a simple screwdriver to open my laptop. Thanks for your reply I really need some help in this domain, I'm a computer technician but only for software, I'm very noob with the hardware.

 

I know the feeling, I just installed a single 980M in my M18x R2 yesterday and all I did was follow this video -
All you need is a screwdriver of decent length and patience, I'm running windows 7 Ultimate with my 980M and its working fine so far.

When buying the 980M you want to make sure you get the non G-sync version, otherwise you end up in SG mode like myself which for some people can cause issues.
You might also need a new GPU heatsink for the 980M, the part number for the master GPU heatsink I bought was KY4VY, not sure about the second one but I am sure it won't be hard to find.

As for the Bios your going to need A11 Unlocked, just like everything else if you follow the instructions you shouldn't have a problem. When you download the Bios there should be a file with all the instructions on how to flash the Bios and what to do if things go wrong. I printed mine out just in case and I have no problems, if you are still unsure have a look at some of the other forum posts. That is how I found out how to do everything also with googles help.

 

Right now you have a single 980M, and you plan to add one more for SLI right? Do you think this card (with SLI) could handle a VR headset? Because it is written on nvidia website that 980M is not compatible with VR.

I backed for a Pimax 5k and I will receive it in January, steam vr says that my current crossfire (7970M) is compatible with VR but with low graphics. Maybe I should wait before upgrading my cards? I was more interested by the PCI express solution but I don't know how to start. I was thinking about using this card https://www.materiel.net/carte-graphique/zotac-geforce-gtx-1060-3-go-134224.html.

 

Right I just ran the oculus rift compatibility test and I failed on two sections, CPU and GPU. Problem is I am using the best CPU the M18x R2 can have which may mean VR just isn't possible.

As for the 980M a single one is a no go, SLI might pass the test but I can't tell without another 980M. You can try the external card with a 1060 which is what it wants, but if the CPU really is the bottle neck then I'm not sure it will work well either way.

 

All my VR tests stipulate my hardware is compatible with VR (except my GPU), I did the tests from Occulus, Vive and Steam VR.
Occulus and Steam VR both say yes for the gpu with crossfire enabled, but Vive doesn't detect the crossfire, only 1 card.

Currently my CPU is an Intel Core i7-3720QM @2.60GHz and it is fully compatible with VR, FYI. I have 16Gb ram (2x8Gb Corsair).

Maybe I'll just wait for my Pimax headset and decide in January if I want to upgrade my GPU, I'll come again on this forum at this time to be sure of the different solutions.

Also I saw somewhere that someone played VR successfully on this laptop, so it's not a lost cause.

EDIT:
http://prntscr.com/h4iq4k
As you can see on my screenshot the cpu is compatible. I did this test without crossfire enabled (I usually disable 1 card to save it from heat).

 

how odd that your CPU passed and mine did not, could be that I am in SG mode which might be causing issues but can't be sure.
I am running a i7-3940XM @ 3.60 GHz so if yours passed mine should have easily :S

I'm sure I have seen that post to while looking for information on the 980m at some point. If it works without much trouble then go for it ^^
But yea if you are not in a rush it might be best to wait and see if anyone else has more information about VR.

 

I don't know much about SG mode sorry, but your CPU is indeed better than mine. In fact I'm not in a rush, I backed for the Pimax so let's wait for it and I'll tell you if it works well in January. These days it seems VR headsets are compatible with a lot of low-specs PC so I'm quite confident.

 

I still dont find any success upgrade topic about the 1080 on the M18x R2.. And we are near December, any news??

 

SG mode is just not good really, I finally got the problem fixed and now the VR tests show my CPU is more than enough to run VR.
Sadly even my 980M is still listed as some kind of bottle neck and might cause issues with VR, maybe two of them in SLI will solve the problem I'm not sure.

Are you asking about using a 1080 externally or internally ?
Internally the 1060 is the best you can have but requires modding the heatsink.
Externally I'm not sure as I am guessing you would still need to install drivers which I don't think even exist.

 

Fastest M18x upgrades possible for GPU:

GTX 1070 (modify heatsink, SG mode only)
Quadro P5000 (no modifications, SG mode only)
980M SLI (no modifications, works exactly same as original cards)
GTX 1060 (modify heatsink, SG mode only)

 

does anyone know if you will be able to utilize sli in sg mode (i-e) if i upgrade to gtx 1060 can i add a second gpu on later stages.

 

So it is definitive? no 1080 (internal) for Alienware M18x R2?
What you advise, 1070 or SLI 980m? (I want less problem as possible)

 

980M SLI is the way to go for less headaches.

 

980m SLI will be best for less problems. You will need to grind your heatsink and run strictly in SG mode if you want 1070. Also the 1070 cards seem un-reliable, which is why I went with 1060.

No SLI support, but you may be able to utilize it in programs that can take advantage of multiple GPUs (not SLI) such as Hashcat.

 

so, how I saying in the begin of this post, no hope for the 1080 on the M18x R2... goodbye dream..

 

1160 might work next year if it fits and might be 1080 level, so who knows.

 

someone know if the eatsink fo the AMD 7970m is good for the nVidia 980m or it need a modifcation?

 

I used the 7970m heatsinks for my 980m's. They don't need any modifications

 

Other than taking out the black tape. Right?

 

thanks for the reply! do you have any template, or advise about what thermal pad I need to buy? mm? brand? soft or hard? I want be sure to have the lower temperature.
Also, where i can find the black plastic tape for the 980? or i can use other solution, lice use adesive work electrical tape, or something like this?

 

thanks for the reply! do you have any template, or advise about what thermal pad I need to buy? mm? brand? soft or hard? I want be sure to have the lower temperature.
Also, where i can find the black plastic tape for the 980? or i can use other solution, lice use adesive work electrical tape, or something like this?

 

You mean the tape on the copper that touches the GPU die?... the 980m die is larger the the 7970m and will touch this tape if you don't take it off. Thanks for picking up on that, its not a mod really but does need to be done!

You will need to do a few trial assemblies to make sure you are getting good contact on the gpu die and that the thermal pads are not to thick or thin on the rest of the components that need cooling.

In general the the high capacity pads (11-12w/mk) are hard and wont squish down much, which mean you need to get the thickness right or you will bend your graphics card/reduce cooling on the gpu die.

You should from memory be able to use 1mm hard or soft thermal pads on the 8 vram chips and mix and match soft 1 and 2mm thermal pads for the rest of the components.

Sorry I can't be more specific, it was over 2 years ago that I did the thermal pads on my 980m's.


I personally would not bother with putting black tape back on the heatsink. It will work just fine without.

 

Just for future notice, AMD and Nvidia 100W heatsink are the same, only difference is the black tape.

Remove the black tape and you should be fine installing any compatible GPU.

 

if i remove completely the black plastic on the heatsink gpu die, and put nothing, and leave the heatsink without put nothing instead, I dont risk to have some contact, short circuit or something like this?

also. it is possible to use the 980m without unlock the bios?
And also, every new driver, i need to mod the drivers, or just the first time and after the nex driver update go installed automatic without do nothing?

 

You should be fine completely removing it for a 980m.

You need unlocked BIOS A11 for 980m

Every new driver, you will need to modify the drivers

 

thanks for the info man!
So, if is confirmed that the upgrade 1080 GTX is not possible, I now go for a SLI 980m.
I just hope the SLI have a better support than the crossfire..
Also, finally I want upgrade my crossfire 7970, just because I am not able anymore to install the new ATI drivers without issue, I hope that not happen to with nVidia.

 

^ Sli support is diminishing as we speak.. and not far is the day when nvidia completely desert it.

 

I just reading in internet, now the latest nVidia driver support 980m for m18x r2, so dont need anymore to mod driver. Is this real?

 

Yes. We now have native driver support for our M18x R2s with 970m/980m variants.

 

Could ways go for Single 1070 if im not mistaken it does work in SG mode

 

not worth dealing with SG mode. 980M SLI better option.

 

Of course, Extra VRAM and 2 GPUs is usually stronger option for most tasks, however it depends on what you can get cheaper 2 Used 980M or a New 1070

 

Not enough people are commenting if it works or not, as for myself the answer is no. Tried installing normal drivers for my 980m on my M18x R2 and it didn't work at all, so for me I still needed modded drivers unless I am doing something wrong.

 

AW18 not R2 newest drivers work fine

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

I confirm that drivers instal just fine for my R2. Plain straight forward install with no mods. Even GeForce expirience reports new versions.
Maybe because I have two non gsync GPUS.

 

Be a bit stupid to support just the non G-sync versions, letting there website scan my R2 it does pick up my 980m but tells me to go to Dell for drivers :s

 

I just clean installed the "mobile version" of 388.43, no modding required.

 

I can also report latest NVidia driver installs without having to mod INF on my SLI and single 980M M18x setups.